Support for telephone-receivers



(NoModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. E. THURBER & J. McGONNELL. SUPPORT FOR TELEPHONE RECEIVERS.

No. 376,615. Patented Jan. 17, 1888.

(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. E. THURBER & J. MQGONNELL. SUPPORT FOR TELEPHONE RECEIVERS.

N0. 376,615. Eaten ted Jan. 1'7 1888.

Wain/ewes I UNIT-ED I ST TES PATENT Orrica.

WILLIAM E. THURBER AND JOHN MOGONNELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

' SUPPORT FOR TELEPHONE-RECEIVERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 376,615, dated January 17, 1883.

' Application filed August 31, 1887. Serial No. 248,335. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. THURBER and J OHN MOOONNELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cnyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and nsefulImprovementsin Supports for Telephone -Receivers; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to supports for telephone-receivers, and the object of the invention is to provide a teleph onic receiver with a mechanical support which will take the place of the human arm and sustain the receiver in any desired relation to the transmitter.

To this end the invention consists ina variouslyjointed and pivoted support or holder attached to the telephonecase or otherwise sustained contiguous thereto, andholding the receiving-instrument in any adjusted and convenient position about the transmitter on either side and at any height or angle, so that messages may be received and sent without holding the instrument,thus leaving the hands free to make note of the messages or for other purposes, as shall be desirable at the time.

Theinvention further consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an ordinary telephone-case with ournovel support attached thereto and hold ing the receiving-instrument. Fig. 2 shows the support and receiver separate from the case. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing more especiallythe bracket for attaching the sup portto the case. Fig. 4. is a cross section of the receiver-holder. Fig. 5 shows broken details of the outer end of the main arm and the vertical arm and the connecting-bolt. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a part ofthe main arm and a cross-section of the supportingbracket, showing the pivotal connection between them and the pin on the main arm. Fig. 7 is a detail of the spring-rod for engaging the switch-lever. Fig. 8 is'a view of beveled straps which may be screwed to the case, desk,or wall to attach the supporting-brackets.

A represents an ordinary telephone case or frame with the usualattachments.

To carry out our invention and provide the desired support for the receiving-instrument B, we screw a bracket, 0, to said case below the transmitter D,where the case is accessible for that purpose, and at which point it can be adjusted higher or lower, as may be desired. This bracket is provided with a fixed tooth, c, and an adjustable tooth, c,whereby the bracket is made adaptable to cases of different widths, and which serve to clamp and hold thebracket firmly on the case and at the same time make it readily detachable.

If desired or convenient, the bracket may be attached to a desk or other article adjacent to the telephone, the point or place of attachment not being material, provided the proper working relation of the receiver and transmitter be maintained. The bracket 0 is further. provided with a segmental rest, 0", extending horizontally therefromand having perforatious 0 which are engaged by pin 01 on arm D, pivoted on the bracket at d. This pivot is so formed that it permits both vertical and horizontal movement of the arm. At itsouter extremity the arm D has a lip or stop, (1 Fig. 5, which serves to limit the outward movement of the sectional standard E, pivoted.

on said arm and resting against the stop at when in its extreme outward position. A friction-clamp or its equivalent might be adopted for thisconnection; but the construction here shown and describedwill be found simple, cheap, and satisfactory.

Upon the lower section, 6, of the standard E is formed a disk-shaped plate, 6, having ratchet-teeth e, extending about its outer face, and adjustably attached to this section is the section e, provided with a pawl, 6, controlled by a short springpressed thumb-lever, e pivoted on said section, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This construction enables the upper portion of the standard to have a wide range of lateral adjustment with respect to the transmitter, so that the receiver may be thrown back and forth to get any desired lateral position independent of the supporting-arm be low or any other part of the supporting mechanism.

The telephonic receiver B rests in a holder, G, secured to the section 6' of the standard by a universal joint, g, the construction of which is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A ball-andsocket joint or other equivalent connection might be substituted, if preferred. The holder G has four curved fingers, within which the receiver rests, and is firmly held by a clasp, H, locked by spring-latch h. Rubber tips 9* are placed on the fingers g to more firmly secure the receiver in the holder and prevent its turning therein.

I is a spring-rod held by a set'screw in a socket, i, in the bracket 0, and having a catch, 1'', which engages the switch K when the switch is drawn down and the connections inside are broken, the same as when the receiver is hung thereon and by its gravity depresses the switch and breaks connection. If preferred, the receiver itself may be hung on the switch, as heretofore, the support for the same being so constructed that it can readily be placed or turned into that position. In fact, the sup porting mechanism is designed and fashioned, essentially, on the plan of the human arm and hand, which suggested the idea, and is capable of all the movements thereof, with the advantage of being mechanical, and forming a support which requires no physical exertion.

There is no angle or position about the transmitter that convenience or utility can suggest to which the receiver is not readily adjustable, and it can be left in any given position for repeated and hasty use, or can be turned to other positions, as may be preferred. Ordinarily no handling of the parts will be required except to close or open the circuit by throwing the spring-rod I into or out of engagement with the switch.

If preferred, the rod may be attached at the side of the case instead of to the bracket.

In Fig. 8 we show beveled straps or clampingpieees, two of which are used for attaching the bracket to a case or to the wall or desk, as shall be found desirable.

A special advantage of our construction is its attachments to a telephone-ease without interfering with the property rights of the telephone company. No part of our support has other than a temporary connection with the case, the ordinary manner of attaching the same being to clamp against the sides or edges of the case by sercw-pressure, so that the case is not marred thereby nor the telephone in anywise disturbed; or, if preferred or more convenieut, the bracket may be screwed to a desk, frame, or other support by means of the beveled metal straps shown in Fig. 8, entirely apart from the telephone-casing. All the parts of the telephone proper are thus left wholly undisturbed, while a very material and advantageous element is added to its use.

In Figs. 5 and 6 we show a small set'serew, k, in the head of the large clamping-screw, whereby the parts may be tightened up without turning the clamping-screw.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a support for a telephone-receiver, a bracket provided with a fixed and an adjustable jaw, adapting it to be clamped to differout-sized standards, and ahorizontal segmental plate provided with perforations at intervals near-its edge, in combination with an arm swiveled on said bracket and having a projection on its under side to engage said perforations, a jointed and adjustable standard pivoted on the extremity of said arm, and a holder for a telephone-receiver on the said standard, sub stantially as set forth.

2. In telephone supports, an adjustable jointed standard, in combination with a holder for a telephone-receiver, swivcled on the extremity of said standard and provided with fingers extending from opposite sides and a locking-clasp for holding the telephone-receiver, the fingers being provided with rubber tips to more firmly hold and protect the receiver, substantially as set forth.

3. In telephone-supports, the combination of the following elements: a telephone-case, a bracket clamped to the said ease and having a segmental horizontal portion, an arm swiveled and adjustable on said horizontal portion of the arm, a jointed adjustable standard on the end of the arm, and a holder for the telephone-receiver swiveled on the standard, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof wehereunto set our hands this 23d day of August, 1887.

XVILLIAM E. TIIURBER. JOHN MQCONNELL. Witnesses:

H. 'l. Frsirnn, HENRY E. LOWER. 

